IN TIMES LIKE THESE, YOU NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT

In tumultuous times like these, you need the Holy Spirit to survive and stand. Knowing this, after Jesus’ earthly ministry was completed, God answered the prayer Jesus had asked for before His crucifixion. As recorded in John 14, Jesus told His disciples, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” Jesus called the Holy Spirit, which was the Comforter, “the Spirit of truth, and said, “but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Additionally, Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

After His resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus met with His disciples and, breathing on them, He said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” He commanded them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit, which would give them power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the world.

After waiting ten days in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2 records the arrival of the Holy Spirit. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Needless to say, what happened to the hundred and twenty believers on that day made an impact on the multitude gathered in Jerusalem for the Pentecost celebration, for the scriptures revealed that after Peter explained and ministered to the multitude, three thousand souls were added to their number (Acts 2:14 – 41).

The Holy Spirit from that day until now continues to empower (Acts 1:8), teach and remind (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:13), guide and reveal (John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:10 -12), testify (John 15:26), impart spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4,11), regenerate and quicken (Romans 8:10 -11), convict of sin (John 16:8 -11), constrain (Acts 16:6 – 7), impart love (Romans 5:5), give life (John 6:63) anoint (Luke 4:18 -19), sanctify (1 Corinthians 6:11), produce fruit (Galatians 5:22 – 23), generate supernatural praying  (Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 14:2) and edify (1 Corinthians 14:4). All of these components/actions working in us and for us will assist in helping us to endure and be successful in our Christian walk as we submit to the leading of the Spirit. Furthermore, we believers can thank God for being mindful of us and sending the Holy Spirit for such a time as this and for the future challenging days.